A multi-layered and conserved cell cycle mechanism prevents capsulation, long known as a bacterial virulence determinant, in G1-phase and concurrently licenses bacteriophage-mediated genetic exchange prior to entry into S-phase.
Unlike other similar enzymes, the antimicrobial enzyme PlyC can interact with and translocate eukaryotic membranes, and then lyse and kill intracellular bacteria.
Cryo electron microscopy and structure-based mutagenesis reveal that the bacteriophage BPP-1 contains two of the three major recognized viral folds, one of which exhibits a new topology.
A temperate bacteriophage reprograms the oxygen response of a bacterial signaling system by replacing a host-encoded promoter with a phage-encoded promoter.
The structure and composition of the elusive vertex complex in Tectiviridae is finally revealed and the newly reported protein conformations help to maintain the capsid architecture.